Long-term Care and Assisted Living Operator Transition

Long-term Care and Assisted Living Operator Transition

The BC government is taking significant steps to ensure seniors and people with complex health needs in publicly funded care homes, and the workers who care for them, continue to have the support they need, regardless of where they live or work.

A new memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Ministry of Health, the Health Employers Association of B.C. (HEABC) and the Facilities Bargaining Association (FBA) brings eligible care-home operators to HEABC membership, ensuring workers are covered by an HEABC-negotiated collective agreement.

What is Underway

Eligibility assessments and implementation planning are ongoing.

Work is underway to better understand workforce alignment and associated cost implications to inform transition planning.

Planning to support phased implementation, including written notifications to individual operators beginning in summer 2026.

A multi-pronged communications strategy, including information sessions to be held during the operator eligibility confirmation phase, ongoing updates to the question-and-answer document, regular public website updates, and ongoing direct communications and updates through each project phase.

A high-level implementation timeline to provide operators visibility on key phases, including eligibility confirmation, transition planning, and onboarding to HEABC membership.

What Operators Can Expect

Operators will receive additional information on transition requirements, timelines, and supports as part of a phased implementation process.

Individual operators can expect written notification of eligibility decisions in summer 2026.

The first transition phase is October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027. The Order in Council (OIC)s are not expected until after that phase begins. OICs are legal instruments used by government to bring operators under the Health Employers Regulation, which is a required step for HEABC membership.

Funding & Stability

Work is underway to assess the fiscal impacts associated with transitioning eligible operators to HEABC collective agreements.

Funding approach is under development and will be communicated prior to transition implementation.

Wage leveling will continue until at least March 31, 2027, for eligible operators who have not yet transitioned, to support workforce stability.

Engagement and Next Steps

The Ministry will continue to:

• Share updated guidance through Q&A materials;
• Engage with sector partners; and,
• Provide regular updates to operators as key milestones are reached.

Timeline

Additional information for Long-term Care and Assisted Living providers: Designation of Unionized Long-Term Care and Assisted Living Operators as HEABC Members – Question and Answer